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An Irish Country Christmas (Irish Country Books) | 
| Author: Patrick Taylor
Publisher: Forge Books
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $16.47
You Save: $8.48 (34%)
Rating:  43 reviews
Sales Rank: 11814
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 496
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.5
Dimensions (in): 9.3 x 6 x 1.7
ISBN: 0765320703
Dewey Decimal Number: 813.54
EAN: 9780765320704
Publication Date: October 28, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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Product Description
Barry Laverty, M.B., is looking forward to his first Christmas in the cozy village of Ballybucklebo, at least until he learns that his sweetheart, Patricia, might not be coming home for the holidays. That unhappy prospect dampens his spirits somewhat, but Barry has little time to dwell on his romantic disappointments. Christmas may be drawing nigh, but there is little peace to be found on earth, especially for a young doctor plying his trade in the emerald hills and glens of rural Ireland.
Along with his senior partner, Doctor Fingal Flahertie O’Reilly, Barry has his hands full dealing with seasonal coughs and colds, as well as the occasional medical emergency. To add to the doctors’ worries, competition arrives in the form of a patient-poaching new physician whose quackery threatens the health and well-being of the good people of Ballybucklebo. Can one territory support three hungry doctors? Barry has his doubts.
But the wintry days and nights are not without a few tidings of comfort and joy. Between their hectic medical practice, Rugby Club parties, and the kiddies’ Christmas Pageant, the two doctors still find time to play Santa Claus to a struggling single mother with a sick child and not enough money in the bank. Snow is rare in Ulster, and so are miracles, but that doesn’t mean they never happen. . . .
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| Customer Reviews: Read 38 more reviews...
 somewhere between harmless and irritating November 18, 2008
5 out of 8 found this review helpful
The idolatry of Hawkeye Pierce in the television version of "M*A*S*H*" is nothing compared to the treatment of Dr. O'Reilly in An Irish Country Christmas.
At first, the book struck me as somewhat dull but harmless. Towards the middle, I was truly fed up with the characters (more about that in a bit). By the end, I had moved a few steps closer to harmless, but the irritating depiction of the townspeople as helpless dolts made the book irredeemable for me.
The population of Ballybucklebo is apparently nearly 100% without individual problem-solving abilities; thus they require a doctor's assistance for problems great and small.
A young boy doesn't like his part in the Christmas pageant? Ask the doctor. (Of course, since the young Dr. Laverty rather than the all-knowing, selfless Dr. O'Reilly attempted to solve this problem, the solution was bound to fail.) A widow has lost her Christmas savings? Do not fear - Dr. O'Reilly is on the case. There is no equal to his intellect, understanding of human nature, or thoughtfulness in the entire town. Most of the townfolk were painted as charmingly ignorant dimwits awaiting instruction and guidance from "himself" (Dr. O'Reilly). Improbable and annoying.
Medical professionals and/or those with a serious interest in 1960s Ireland may find more to like in this book.
 A warm cuddle with a book that promises to bring joy October 26, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
This was one of those rare books that one hates to have end. You will wish to stay in this place and continue with the setting, the characters and the mood. "An Irish Country Christmas" is certain to shoot to the top of every best seller list with this engaging tale everyone will wish to call their own. Having not read the others in the series this reviewer is anxious to order them and continue the charmed escape to the Irish countryside. If not already thought of, this series cries to be a boxed set full of lovely illustrations. In troubled times, this writing is just what the soul needs!
Patrick Taylors' fictional accounts of the life of a pair of Irish country doctors in a day before modern medicine had created a gap between patient and practitioner are continued in this story that leads up to their shared Christmas. It is a Christmas full of all the happiness and goodwill that has been left behind in modern fractionated culture.I'm certain this book has re-read qualities when after a hard played day, a reader just wants to go somewhere that is simple and good. The reader will feel the warmth of Jameson after a cold walk in the snow and hear the sound of carolers when engaged by this worthy read.
Erveryone will be left anxious to find out about what a happens to Barry and Patricia or is it Barry and Sue? There is certainly a lot more in store for us in The Irish Country! Patrick Taylor has created something that is not only a worthy read but would make a nice movie or a BBC-Ireland series such as Ballykissangel.
Want to take a holiday but can't afford it? Try the Irish Country Series!
 A folksy fictional look at rural Ireland in 1964. October 28, 2008
4 out of 12 found this review helpful
This review is for a product I received free through the Amazon Vine Program.
As soon as I saw the title for this book I knew that I wanted to read it. I thoroughly enjoy this particular style of book which features characters involved in their daily life in small rural towns and villages. I have read all of the James Herriott stories as well as those written by Jan Karon and her Father Tim character. Another special series for me are the Miss Read books in the small English villages of Fairacre and Thrush Green, mostly told from the viewpoint of the lynchpin of the community, the school teacher.
I have not read the other two stories in this series, An Irish Country Doctor and An Irish Country Village but I found that with only a few exceptions this part of the story of Doctors Laverty and O'Reilly and the people of Ballybucklebo can be quite easily understood without having any prior knowledge of the first two books. If you read both or either of those stories and enjoyed it, you will most certainly enjoy this continuation of the story. I liked the "Irishness" of the writing, that is to say the Ulster dialect, and the cultural phrasing of the narrative. I also liked the descriptions of the landscape and the various weather conditions. All of these things were completely realistic for me. Since the author, Dr. Patrick Taylor, is himself Irish this aspect of the book was very satisfying and enjoyable. Since Dr. Taylor is also a medical man, the diagnosis, treatment and descriptions of the fictional characters illnessess and medical problems were, I'm sure, completely correct and accurate.
My main problem with this book is that it moved so very slowly. This book takes place just during the month of December and was a description of almost every single occurrance in the lives of the main characters over that period of time. The story is presented from the viewpoint of both Barry Laverty and Fingal O'Reilly including their visits with patients, interactions with their housekeeper, the village inhabitants, a new doctor in the area and situations concerning their growing interest in the women who will obviously play major roles in subsequent novels. All three of the books only cover a space of time from July to December of 1964.
On the plus side, unlike much modern fiction written today, there is not one single objectionable thing that I found contained within the pages of this book. There is no vulgar language, there are no sexual situations. There is an afterword written by Mrs. Kincaid (Kinky) the housekeeper where she shares some of the recipes talked about in the story. There is also a section of author's notes where Dr. Taylor gives an explanation of how the stories came about and gives some insight into the location and the characters he created. There is a glossary with definitions of the Ulster dialect for those of us who became hopelessly stumped upon occasion.
I think that those of you who are looking for a very slow moving, folksy, daily detail laden novel will thoroughly enjoy this book. I am glad I had the opportunity to indulge my curiosity of "some things" Irish by having a look at the culture through these characters. My rating for this book is actually a 2.5/3 star rating because it was rather a slow read for me.
warm and uplifting medical cozy November 1, 2008
4 out of 8 found this review helpful
In the quaint Irish village of Ballybucklebo, Dr. Fingal O'Reilly and his partner Dr. Barry Laverty deal as always with the vast ailments of the townsfolk while also dealing with respective attractions to the opposite sex. Fingal has doubts about courting effervescent Kitty O'Halloran except when he is near her; than he has no rational thought. Barry is upset because his girlfriend Patricia Spence at Girton College informs him she may not make it in time for his first Christmas in the small Irish village.
However, all that pales compared to a new doctor in town who steals their patients with remedies that should have the man barred. To country doctors O'Reilly and Laverty, Dr. Fitzpatrick should be called Dr. Quack, but as ridiculous as his prescriptions are, he is gaining patients.
The third Irish County medical cozy (see AN IRISH COUNTRY DOCTOR and AN IRISH COUNTRY VILLAGE) is a fun tale as O'Reilly and Laverty continues to take care of the villagers by combining modern medical practices with homespun "cures" like dressing up as Santa. The story line is warm and uplifting even when Patricia looks like she will not make for the holidays and Fitzpatrick causes harm to the patients he steals. Readers who enjoyed the previous entries will especially want to read this one as the two physicians spend their first holiday season with fans.
Harriet Klausner
Pleasant and fun November 3, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
This is an ideal book to devour with the Christmas pudding, preferably by the fire in the glow of tree lights. It is not a work of great literature, and Laverty is not a character with the sort of elegance and beauty of speech one would find in such previous literary doctors as A. J. Cronin created. Yet it is a very pleasant read - at times amusing, sometimes verging on insightful, and one which captures the frustration and weariness, as well as happy aspects, which most of us know at Christmas in the 'real world.'
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